That's my ball. City 'keeper Kevin Sawyer thwarts another Ashford attack. DA4803P12.AN INJURY-TIME goal by Salis-bury City substitute Steve Strong ensured the club bounced back to winning ways against Ashford Town following last week's defeat at fellow title chasers Histon.

The Kent outfit looked to be taking home a share of the spoils after Dave Powell's 76th minute effort cancelled out Craig Davis' 63rd minute header.

But a mistake by 'keeper John Whitehouse allowed Strong's shot to roll over the line in the closing minutes.

In what proved an often physical and scrappy encounter, Town frustrated the home side and often denied them the space to play their usual free-flowing attacking football.

Josh Thomas almost opened the scoring in the first minute, but his close range header failed to hit the target.

The early cat and mouse contest was not helped by picky Wimbledon referee Oliver McGuiness whose yellow card tally eventually closed at seven.

Powell was booked for a poor tackle on Thomas before Sam Saunders clashed with City goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer, childishly refusing to give the ball back after an offside decision.

Just before the break Ashford's best chance yet fell to Joby Thorogood who beat the offside trap, but was denied thanks to a stunning save by Sawyer.

Ashford were first out of the blocks in the second half and again only Sawyer's towering presence in the City goal prevented the deadlock being broken. Matt Bower's shot from the edge of the penalty area producing another top notch stop.

However, Salisbury stepped up a gear and Stuart James' cross was met by Davis' header for the opener on 63 minutes.

Gardner became the next Town player to see yellow after arguing with the officials over a throw-in decision.

But his side were back in the contest on 76 minutes when a swift counter-attack ended with Powell netting.

Glover was booked for a nasty challenge on City skipper Scott Bartlett and the Kent side's lack of discipline might have proved even costlier had the referee acted on Bower's karate kick on Davis which most other observers in the ground believed justified a straight red.

Salisbury, needing the three points to stay in contention at the top, never gave up.

Adam Wallace and substitute Leigh Phillips went close late on but the home crowd went wild with delight in the last minute when City's never-say-die attitude came up trumps yet again.

Strong was cleverly picked out by Bartlett but his goalbound shot looked to have been stopped by Whitehouse. However, as the 'keeper went to ground, the ball somehow escaped his clutches and trickled over the line much to the delight of the Whites fans.